Driving apparatus



Nov. 25, 1958 R; s. ELLIS 2,851,777

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United States Patent DRIVING APPARATUS Russell S. Ellis, Northampton, Mass.

Application September 17, 1956, Serial No. 610,158

7 Claims. (Cl. 253-166) This invention relates to improvements in driving apparatus.

The principal objects of the invention are directed to the provision of driving apparatus of the rotary type adapted for operation by the pressure of fluids of all types.

The apparatus of the invention, in a general way, is characterized by the provision of a rotor which is rotatable within a stator. The rotor consists of a stack of secured together rotor discs. The stator consists of a stack of secured together stator discs. Said rotor and stator discs are annular in form. The former is arranged to receive fluid under pressure centrally thereof and is provided with circumferentially spaced radial jet passageways for directing jets of fluid under pressure tangentially and angularly against and into'discharge ports which are arranged circumferentially of the stator discs which results in rotation of the torque delivering rotor.

A valve is slidable relative to the stator discs to open or"'close the discharge ends of a selected number or a part of the stator disc passageways to thereby obtain the desired output torque and rotative speed of the rotor.

The apparatus of the invention is compact in form to occupy but small space, is eflicient in operation and constructed and characterized by means to produce maximum horsepower in proportion to its weight.

The apparatus is not only adapted for operation by various fluids but by fluids at various pressures, and it may be used for many and various driving purposes, as for example in driving machines and apparatus of all types and kinds, such as machine tools, automotive vehicles, hydro-electric generator sets, large engine starters, and the like.

As a novel feature of the apparatus, When employed for driving a machine tool or the like requiring varying torque or speed, the torque and speed delivered by the apparatus may be readily and easly varied to accommodate the machine or apparatus being driven.

Various changes and modifications may be made in the form of apparatus falling within the scope of the invention, which for purposes of disclosure will be described in the form at present preferred in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. l is a plan View of driving apparatus embodying the novel features of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an end elevational view of the fluid input or inletendof the apparatus shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an end elevational view of the power output end of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view on the-line 4 4 of'Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a transverse'sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6-is a longitudinal sectional view on the line '66 of Fig. 2;

Figs. 7 and 7A are side elevational and plan views respectively of the slide valve of the apparatus, shown in'Fig; 1; p 7

Figs; 8 and 8A are plan and sectional views'respec- 2. tively of one of the stator discs of the apparatus, shown in Fig. 1; and

Figs. 9 and 9A are plan and sectional views respectively of one of the rotor discs of the apparatus, shown in Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the novel features of the apparatus will be more fully described.

An end inner body 2, which may be called the input or inlet body, is provided and has an input or inlet 4 for fluid under pressure which is in communication with an enlarged, enclosed, chamber 6 thereof, see Figs. 4 and 6.

Said input 4 may be connected to a suitable source of fluid pressure, as may be desired.

An outer elongated cylindrical housing 8 has an outer end 8' secured to the outer end of the body 2, by an annular ring-like member 10 which in turn is secured in place by bolts 12, as shown.

A flange 14 extends outwardly at the inner end of the housing 8. Another elongated housing portion 16 has one end secured to and extends from said flange 14. An end plate 20 is secured by bolts 22 to the opposite end of the housing portion 16, see Figs. 1 and 6.

Cylinder bores 24 are provided in opposite sides of the housing portion 16 and pistons 26 are reciprocable therein, see Figs. 5 and 6.

A tubular sleeve valve 28 is slidable relative to the housing portion 8, and is provided with ears 39 on opposite sides thereof, with elongated guide rods 32 fixed in said ears 36 Piston rods 34, similar to the rods 32, are fixed in thepistons 26. Adjacent ends of the piston rods 34 and of the guide rods 32, at opposite ends, are tied together by plates 36 and 38. Said rods 32 and 34 are slidable in the members 14 and 26, as shown in Fig. 6.

Closure caps 46 are secured to the member 26 by bolts 42, or the like, and enclose the ends of the rods 32 and 34, and the plates 38 connecting them. Other closures 43 extend around opposite ends of said rods and have flanged ends which are secured to the members 8, 10 and 14, by screws or bolts 50, as shown in Fig. 6.

In operation, the slide valve 23 may be reciprocated by mechanical means operably connected to actuators 38' of the members 38, or by fluid pressure means. Said mechanical means may take any form desired. The slide valve, at its upper portion, is adapted to slide along the stator periphery, to open or close outer ends of passageways of the stator discs.

Fluid pressure means includes conduits such as 60 con=- nected to outer ends of the cylinders 24-, at opposite sides of the pistons 26 therein, and to separate header 62, see Fig. l. A pair of pipes '64 extend from each said header 62.

The pipes 64 may be connected to control valve mechanism, such as a four-way valve of well-known form, so that the slide valve 28 may be moved in either direction to a desired position of adjustment by control of pressure to the cylinders.

A rotor end member 70 isrotatable in the member 2, by means of a bearing 70' and is provided with a central passageway or bore 74 therethrough, for fluid, under pressure, see Figs. 4 and 6. A stack of rotor discs 76 are in superposed relation on the member 76. An end driving member 78 surmounts the stack of rotor discs.

3 ber 2 and bolts 89 extend through the member 20, discs 88 into the member 2 to form a stator component, having a bore rotatably receiving the rotor component.

An elongated exhaust chamber or passageway 90 extends around'and along the stator and has exhaust outlets 92 which may be connected to such an exhaust system, as may be desired, see Figs. 1 and 4.

The member 16 on sides thereof between the cylinders 24 will preferably be provided with longitudinally spaced radially extending fins 92', of well known form for cooling, see Fig. 4.

One rotor disc 76 will now be described with reference to Figs. 9 and 9A which show a single disc. The said rotor discs are alike.

Said disc 76 is formed with a transverse wall 100 and with a rim portion 164 on partitions 1% which extend from the wall 100. Said portion 104 of one disc is receivable in a recess or groove 104' of an adjacent disc to hold the discs in concentric relation.

The partition sections 106, which carry the rim sections, extend from the wall 190 of the disc in circumferentially spaced relation to provide passageways 108 therebetween for fluid. Said passageways are disposed generally radially from said opening, or bore 86.

Inner input ends 110 of the rotor passageways 108 are directed generally in the direction of rotation of the rotor, which is indicated by the arrow a, in Fig. 9. Outer jet ends 112 of the passageways 108 are directed generally tangentially relative to the central opening 86, away from or trailing the direction of rotation of the rotor, indicated by said arrow a.

The outer or jet ends 112 of the passageways 108 are of relatively greater area or width than are the input or inner ends thereof, as indicated, in Fig. 9. Reaction areas or zones of the passageways are indicated as between the arrows b. Impelling areas of the passageways are indicated as between the arrows c.

, A stator disc 88 is illustrated in Figs. 8 and 8A. As with the rotor discs each stator disc has a transverse end wall 116 and annular rim portions 118 on partitions 122, around the central opening 120 therein, in which the rotor rotates. Said rim portions 118 are received in annular recesses, such as 118, of an adjacent disc, as with the rotor discs, to hold the stator discs in concentric relation.

The partitions 122 which carry the rim portions 118' extend from the wall 116, in circumferentially spaced relation, so as to provide exhaust passageways 124 terminating in exhaust ports 126 into the exhaust chamber 90. The passageways 124- are formed so that the ports 126 are directed in a leading direction or in the general direction of rotation of the rotor, indicated by arrow a. The exhaust or outer ports 126 of the passageways are of relatively greater area or width than the entrance or inlet ends, as illustrated in Fig. 8.

The passageways 124 are formed to provide reaction surfaces 128. These are disposed in planes extending longitudinally of the rotor and stator and angularly relatively to planes extending longitudinally through the axis of rotation of the rotor.

A cap 130 around the drive shaft 80 includes packing and lubricating means and is secured to the member 29 by screws or bolts 132.

The discs 76, and members 78 and 78 being secured as they are provide a unitary rotor which is rotatable within the stator of a closed housing, which has a discharge chamber leading to exhaust outlets, as previously described.

In operation the input or inlet 4 is connected to a source of fluid pressure, as may be desired. Fluid under pressure enters the chamber 6 through the input 4, into the central rotor bore, which is formed by the central openings of adjacent rotor discs.

Generally the fluid under pressure is directed by the passageways 108 of the rotor discs 76 to and through functions.

4 the passageways 124 of the stator discs 88 and into the discharge or exhaust chamber.

A certain volume of fluid supplied the input of the apparatus passes through the relatively larger chamber to the passageway or bore of the rotor. The fluid entering the bore of the rotating rotor swirls with a vortex action. The fluid under pressure attains the vortex action from a straight line flow, thereby reducing friction and contributing to the torque delivering ability of the apparatus and its efliciency. The swirling fluid enters the passageways 110 of the rotor.

The passageways 110 have two distinct coordinating The pressure areas or zones thereof, indicated by arrows b, constitutes in general, a pitch line. This will vary somewhat according to variations in speed of the rotor, and/or the pressure of fluid but will be known as the reaction area in determining the energy imparted to the rotor or a disc thereof. The area of the rotor passageways, indicated by arrows c, constitute an impeller area, tangential to the axis of rotation of the rotor and at an increased diameter. As rotation increases, the centrifugal force and mechanical ejection of fiuid substantially eliminates the resistance to fluid flow due to friction.

The force of jets of fluid from the rotor discs as applied to the passageways 124 of the stator discs, and more particularly to the reaction surfaces 128 thereof reacts against the rotor resulting in rotation and driving torque of said rotor, the primary driving element of the apparatus. Pressure is relieved at the discharge ports 126 of the stator discs into the discharge chamber 90, and thence outwardly of the outlets 92 thereof.

This multiplicity of pressure jets from the rotor and entering and acting on the passageways of the stator discs results in rotation of the rotor for transmitting speed and torque to such apparatus as may be driven by the shaft 80.

The number of passageways of the stator discs are in excess of those of the rotor discs, wherefore at no instant of time, during rotation of the rotor, is communication between all of the passageways of the rotor and stator cut off. Thereby continuous operation is assured by a multiplicity of pressure jets directed from the rotor in a direction generally opposed to its direction of rotation and against the angular surfaces of the stator passageways to provide the torque and speed desired.

Speed and torque variations are accomplished by adjustment of the slide valve. That is, the said valve may be adjusted to cover or uncover the discharge ends of the stator, passageways of a selected number of stator discs, as may be desired. Relatively greater speed and less torque is provided when the valve covers a greater number of stator discs than when it covers a less number. Said slide valve may be adjusted during operation of the apparatus, as may be desired or required.

\ The passageways of the stator discs and the surfaces thereof against which the pressure jets are directed will be formed to eliminate friction, and back pressure and result in the greatest reactance and provide the greatest torque.

Various changes and modifications may be made in the form of the apparatus without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore it is desired to be limited, if at all by the appended claims, rather than the foregoing description.

I claim:

1. Driving apparatus of the class described comprising in combination, a housing, a stator support within said housing, an elongated straight-sided single stator comprised of a plurality of separate similar superposed cir cular ring-like stator discs secured to said stator support, the stator discs of said stator having aligned elongated axial bores therethrough providing an axial bore for said stator, a rotor support rotatable in said stator support, an elongated straight-sided single rotor rotatable within the axial bore of said stator and comprised of a pluraliy of separate similar superposed circular ring-like rotor discs secured to said rotor support, the rotor discs of said rotor having communicating axial bores therethrough providing an axial bore for fluid under pressure for said rotor, said rotor support having an input for fluid under pressure in communication with the bore of said rotor, each rotor disc of said rotor being within the bore of one of the stator discs of said stator, the rotor and stator discs having walls in the same plane disposed transversely relative to the longitudinal axis of the bore of said rotor, the stator discs between the walls of adjacent discs being provided with separate circumferentially spaced pass ageways extending from the bores therein generally radially outwardly, fluid discharge means being within said housing exteriorly of said stator, the rotor discs of said rotor between the walls of adjacent discs being provided with separate circumferentially spaced passageways extending from the bores therein generally radially outwardly and upon rotation of said rotor being intermittently in communication with the passageways of the stator discs of said stator, an elongated sleeve valve closely surrounding said stator and being reciprocable in opposite directions therealong to close outer ends of the passageways of predetermined stator discs of said stator, and means for reciprocating said sleeve valve.

2. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein, said reciprocating means includes elongated cylinder bores provided in said housing and having pistons reciprocable therein and piston rods extending from the pistons and being operatively connected at their outer ends to said sleeve valve for eflecting the reciprocating movement thereof.

3. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein, said fluid discharge means includes a space provided in said housing around said stator and sleeve valve and the outlets extending from an end of the space.

4. Driving apparatus of the class described comprising in combination, a closed housing having a stator support therein and a plurality of separate similar superposed round ring-like stator discs secured thereto constituting .an elongated straight-sided single stator having a uniform outer diameter, said stator discs having elongated aligned axial bores therethrough providing an axial bore for said stator, a rotor support rotatable in said stator support and separate similar round ring-like rotor discs secured in superposed relation to said rotor support forming an elongated straight-sided single rotor rotatable within the bore of said stator discs, said rotor discs having cornmunicating axial bores therethrough providing an axial bore for the rotor for fluid under pressure, said rotor support having an input for fluid under pressure in communicating with the bore of said rotor, each said rotor disc being within the bore of a stator disc and said rotor and stator discs having walls in the same plane disposed transversely relative to the longitudinal axis of the rotor bore, said stator discs between the walls of adjacent discs provided with separate circumferentially spaced passageways which extend from the bores therein generally radially outwardly, said housing having fluid discharge means exteriorly of said rotor, said rotor discs provided be tween the walls of adjacent discs provided with separate circumferentially spaced passageways which extend from the bores therein generally radially outwardly and in rotation of the rotor are intermittently in communication with the passageways of the stator discs, an elongated sleeve valve closely surrounding said stator reciprocable in opposite directions therealong to close outer ends of the passageways of predetermined discs of the stator, means for guiding said sleeve valve in reciprocating movements, and means to reciprocate said guiding means.

5. Apparatus set forth in claim 4 wherein said guiding means includes elongated guide rods on opposite outer sides of said stator reciprocably mounted in said housing to which said sleeve valve is secured.

6. Apparatus set forth in claim 4 wherein said means to reciprocate said guiding means includes elongated cylinder bores provided in said housing having pistons reciprocable therein, and piston rods extending in opposite directions from said pistons operatively connected at outer ends to outer ends of said guide rods.

7. Apparatus set forth in claim 4 wherein said fluid discharge means includes a space provided in said housing around said stator and sleeve valve and outlets extending from an end of said space.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 882,127 Stevens Mar. 17, 1908 1,100,632 Tuch June 16, 1914 2,618,462 Kane Nov. 18, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 58,714 Denmark Mar. 26, 1941 

